PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — If you are angry about the Philadelphia Eagles, you aren't alone.
The head coach and the players feel your frustration after a 27-17 defeat at the hands of the Giants on Sunday. The defeat not only dropped the Eagles to 3-5-1, but it has created a sense of possible impending doom for the rest of the season.
Even with all of the Eagles' flaws, they appeared to be in the driver's seat when it came to winning the weak NFC East. But after Sunday's loss, the Eagles appear to be headed in the wrong direction with seven games remaining.
"I'm disappointed," said Pederson. "We're all disappointed. The guys in the locker room at the end of the game, they were frustrated. They were mad."
Being mad and disappointed is one thing. Having the ability to turn things around is another.
Even if the Eagles turn things around enough to win the division, it would be difficult to see them making any noise in the playoffs. However, playoffs are hardly on the radar at this point for this Eagles team. The offense and defense are inconsistent and players are simply making too many mistakes.
But Pederson believes the Eagles are capable of playing better football.
"We are all frustrated," Pederson said. "We know we're so much better and we've just got to buckle in this week. Everything is still right in front of us and we've got a great opportunity on Sunday."
The light ahead may actually be an oncoming train for the Eagles. Their next five games will be against teams outside the division, and all five teams have winning records.
It starts on Sunday when the Eagles visit the 6-3 Cleveland Browns, and Pederson is counting on his players to respond and is hoping the team leaders will help him send the right message.
"I've also got to make sure that we understand how we prepare during the week and how we practice during the week," said Pederson. "I want the leadership of the team to understand that and really embrace and rally around each other. Quite honestly, what I've been I guess pleased about with the guys is in situations like this, they have always rallied."
The Eagles have indeed rallied in the past.
They appeared to be out of playoff contention several times over the past two years only to turn things around over the final weeks of the season. But there are serious questions as to whether the 2020 edition of the Eagles is capable of a turnaround. Pederson is hoping the players will use their anger as motivation for change.
"The guys are upset and they can really channel that into a positive," Pederson said. "They can feed on that and sort of use that as momentum going into the next ballgame or at least these next seven games that we have remaining. There's a lot of pride, a lot of pride in that locker room, coaches and players, and we'll get it fixed."
